The Patriots managed to hang on and edge out a close win against the Colts on Sunday, and it's a good thing, too, because they needed it to keep pace with the Jets. For the second week in a row, New York got a game-winning score from WR Santonio Holmes, who hauled in a perfect pass from Mark Sanchez with 10 seconds left to down the Texans, 30-27.
The Jets and Patriots are now both 8-2, with New York first in the AFC East thanks to their Week 2 defeat of New England. The two teams meet again Monday night in Week 13, in Foxboro.
Elsewhere around the AFC East, the Dolphins were shutout by the Chicago Bears Thursday night, 16-0, dropping their record to 5-5. On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills spotted the Cincinnati Bengals a 21-point lead before storming back with 35 second-half points to win easily, 49-31. After eight straight losses to begin the season, the Bills have now won two in a row.
The Patriots' Week 12 opponent, the Detroit Lions, fell on the road in Dallas, 35-19, extending their NFL record road-losing streak to 26 games. New England plays at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day at 12:30 p.m. ET.